A simple method for pulse contrast enhancement via self-focusing
Here we report on a simple-to-implement and cost-effective approach for laser pulse contrast enhancement, based on the ${\chi}^{(3)}$ nonlinear self-focusing effect. An intentionally induced and gently controlled self-focusing in a thin glass transforms the time-dependent intensity into varia...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Cambridge University Press
2024-01-01
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| Series: | High Power Laser Science and Engineering |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2095471923000993/type/journal_article |
| _version_ | 1797205714113921024 |
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| author | Zaharit Refaeli Gilad Marcus Yariv Shamir |
| author_facet | Zaharit Refaeli Gilad Marcus Yariv Shamir |
| author_sort | Zaharit Refaeli |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Here we report on a simple-to-implement and cost-effective approach for laser pulse contrast enhancement, based on the
${\chi}^{(3)}$
nonlinear self-focusing effect. An intentionally induced and gently controlled self-focusing in a thin glass transforms the time-dependent intensity into variation in beam divergence. Followed by a spatial discriminating filter, only the strongly focused fraction traverses the setup, at the expense of efficiency. A numerical model, accounting for the pulse and material parameters via a Gaussian ABCD matrix, provides an estimate for the instantaneous beam waist and transmission efficiency, which enables us to evaluate the resulting contrast enhancement. The estimated contrast enhancement spans between 0.5 and 2.5 orders of magnitude, in conjunction with approximately 25%–90% estimated efficiency, depending on the pulse parameters. In a preliminary experiment we demonstrated the effect with 10s-μJ sub GW regime with approximately 40
$\%$
efficiency and a contrast improvement of more than or equal to 20 dB. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T18:42:05Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-863052ffb69c42c8a5dd1e990608abcb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2095-4719 2052-3289 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T08:55:30Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | High Power Laser Science and Engineering |
| spelling | doaj.art-863052ffb69c42c8a5dd1e990608abcb2024-04-16T07:44:42ZengCambridge University PressHigh Power Laser Science and Engineering2095-47192052-32892024-01-011210.1017/hpl.2023.99A simple method for pulse contrast enhancement via self-focusingZaharit Refaeli0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9176-947XGilad Marcus1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1905-9187Yariv Shamir2Applied Physics Division, Soreq NRC, Yavne, Israel Applied Physics Institute, The Hebrew University, The Edmond J. Safra Campus - Givat Ram, Jerusalem, IsraelApplied Physics Institute, The Hebrew University, The Edmond J. Safra Campus - Givat Ram, Jerusalem, IsraelApplied Physics Division, Soreq NRC, Yavne, IsraelHere we report on a simple-to-implement and cost-effective approach for laser pulse contrast enhancement, based on the ${\chi}^{(3)}$ nonlinear self-focusing effect. An intentionally induced and gently controlled self-focusing in a thin glass transforms the time-dependent intensity into variation in beam divergence. Followed by a spatial discriminating filter, only the strongly focused fraction traverses the setup, at the expense of efficiency. A numerical model, accounting for the pulse and material parameters via a Gaussian ABCD matrix, provides an estimate for the instantaneous beam waist and transmission efficiency, which enables us to evaluate the resulting contrast enhancement. The estimated contrast enhancement spans between 0.5 and 2.5 orders of magnitude, in conjunction with approximately 25%–90% estimated efficiency, depending on the pulse parameters. In a preliminary experiment we demonstrated the effect with 10s-μJ sub GW regime with approximately 40 $\%$ efficiency and a contrast improvement of more than or equal to 20 dB.https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2095471923000993/type/journal_articlenonlinear opticspulse contrastself-focusingultrafast laser |
| spellingShingle | Zaharit Refaeli Gilad Marcus Yariv Shamir A simple method for pulse contrast enhancement via self-focusing High Power Laser Science and Engineering nonlinear optics pulse contrast self-focusing ultrafast laser |
| title | A simple method for pulse contrast enhancement via self-focusing |
| title_full | A simple method for pulse contrast enhancement via self-focusing |
| title_fullStr | A simple method for pulse contrast enhancement via self-focusing |
| title_full_unstemmed | A simple method for pulse contrast enhancement via self-focusing |
| title_short | A simple method for pulse contrast enhancement via self-focusing |
| title_sort | simple method for pulse contrast enhancement via self focusing |
| topic | nonlinear optics pulse contrast self-focusing ultrafast laser |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2095471923000993/type/journal_article |
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